Nystatin (Oral)

Brand Names

Category

Description

Nystatin
(nye-STAT-in)
belongs to the group of medicines called antifungals. The dry powder, lozenge (pastille), and liquid forms of this medicine are used to treat fungus infections in the mouth.

Nystatin is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Oral

Lozenges (Pastilles) (U.S.)

Oral suspension (U.S. and Canada)

Powder for oral suspension (U.S. and Canada)

Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For nystatin, the following should be considered:

Allergies-
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to nystatin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy-
Studies in humans have not shown that oral nystatin causes birth defects or other problems.

Breast-feeding-
Oral nystatin has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children-
This medicine has been tested in children and has not been reported to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults. However, since children up to 5 years of age may be too young to use the lozenges (pastilles) or tablets safely, the oral suspension dosage form is best for this age group.

Older adults-
Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of oral nystatin in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Proper Use of This Medicine

For patients taking the
dry powder form of nystatin
:

Add about ⅛ teaspoonful of dry powder to about 4 ounces of water immediately before taking. Stir well.

After it is mixed, take this medicine by dividing the whole amount (4 ounces) into several portions. Hold each portion of the medicine in your mouth or swish it around in your mouth for as long as possible, gargle, and swallow. Be sure to use all the liquid to get the full dose of medicine.

For patients taking the
lozenge (pastille) form of nystatin
:

Nystatin lozenges (pastilles) should be held in the mouth and allowed to dissolve slowly and completely. This may take 15 to 30 minutes. Also, the saliva should be swallowed during this time.
Do not chew or swallow the lozenges whole
.

Do not give nystatin lozenges (pastilles) to infants or children up to 5 years of age
. They may be too young to use the lozenges safely.

For patients taking the
oral liquid form of nystatin
:

This medicine is to be taken by mouth even if it comes in a dropper bottle. If it does come in a dropper bottle, use the specially marked dropper to measure each dose accurately.

Take this medicine by placing one-half of the dose in each side of your mouth. Hold the medicine in your mouth or swish it around in your mouth for as long as possible, then gargle and swallow.

Patients with full or partial dentures may need to soak their dentures nightly in nystatin for oral suspension to eliminate the fungus from the dentures. In rare cases when this does not eliminate the fungus, it may be necessary to have new dentures made.

To help clear up your infection completely,
keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment
, even if your condition has improved.
Do not miss any doses
.

Dosing-

The dose of nystatin will be different for different patients.
Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label
. The following information includes only the average doses of nystatin.
If your dose is different, do not change it
unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of lozenges, tablets, or milliliters (mL) of suspension that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also,
the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking nystatin
.

For the
lozenge (pastille) and tablet
dosage forms:

Adults and children 5 years of age and older: 1 or 2 lozenges or tablets three to five times a day for up to fourteen days.

Children up to 5 years of age: Children this young may not be able to use the lozenges or tablets safely. The oral suspension is better for this age group.

For the
suspension
dosage form:

Adults and children 5 years of age and older: 4 to 6 milliliters (mL) (about 1 teaspoonful) four times a day.

For older infants: 2 mL four times a day.

For premature and low-birth-weight infants: 1 mL four times a day.

Missed dose-

If you do miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage-

To store this medicine:

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store away from heat and direct light.

Do not store the tablet or dry powder form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.

Store the lozenge (pastille) form in the refrigerator. Heat will cause this medicine to break down.

Keep the oral liquid form of this medicine from freezing.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. The following side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Less common

Diarrhea;
nausea or vomiting;
stomach pain

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Additional Information

Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, nystatin is used in certain patients with the following medical condition:

Candidiasis, oral (fungus infection of the mouth) (prevention)

Other than the above information, there is no additional information relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for this use.